AFC North Title Odds as of Week 9

With the Browns handing the Bengals an ugly defeat on MNF to close out Week 8’s NFL betting festivities, the Baltimore Ravens are now the decided favorites to win the AFC North. If you’ve been reading my stuff since the offseason, you know that John Harbaugh’s squad was the one I pegged to win this division, so this hardly comes as a surprise. But will it be that cut and dry? Let’s put the offerings over at PointsBet Sportsbook under the microscope and see if any call for an investment or two to be made.

Bet AFC North Title Odds at PointsBet Sportsbook

Baltimore Ravens -286

While I have a plus-money ticket on the Baltimore Ravens winning this division in my possession, I’m still not 100 percent sold on the team living up to preseason expectations. The injury bug continues to prevent it from firing on all cylinders. Rashod Bateman can’t shake his foot injury, and his absence has really hampered the Ravens deep passing game. Now stud TE Mark Andrews is battling a shoulder injury. That paired with J.K. Dobbins back on IR has me hesitant about buying into this team being such a decided favorite!

That being said, the defensive side of the ball looks to be near full strength, and it just brought in a huge addition in Roquan Smith to make the front-seven that much more formidable. Vast improvement is likely to be seen on that side of the ball moving forward.

Of the Ravens final nine games, four take place in the comforts of M&T Bank Stadium against Carolina, Denver, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh. All five road games don’t figure to be walks in the park with three coming against division rivals. I’d be shocked if we can’t get a better price on Baltimore down the road. Lie in the weeds and look to strike when it occurs!

Cincinnati Bengals +350

The Bengals looked primed to chase the Ravens down heading into last week’s crucial divisional clash with the Browns. Then news surfaced about Jamar Chase being out until possibly the middle of December. All the wind was taken out of the collective sail with that punishing blow.

Joe Borrow and Co. were largely uncompetitive in the 32-13 beat down in Cleveland Monday night, but you have to imagine Zac Taylor and his staff devise a better game plan with more time to adjust to their stud wide receiver’s absence. The upcoming schedule sets up nicely as well with a home game against Carolina followed by a trip to the Steel City where they’ll attempt to avenge that overtime home loss to Pittsburgh in the season opener.

Cincy will be a major contender if it can figure out a way to get Joe Mixon back in the mix. He’s been a non-factor to this point, but his production is sorely needed now with the offense shorthanded. I called for a buy when this team was a +320 dog heading into Week 3’s trek to New York, and I’m calling for a buy now with their odds to win the division the longest they’ve been to date.

Cleveland Browns +1400

The Cleveland Browns secured a huge triumph over the Bengals to keep their faint division title hopes alive. As great Kevin Stefanski’s team looked in that one, it had much more to do with a shell-shocked Bengals outfit taking to the gridiron than Cleveland being 19 points better.

I recommended hitting the under of the Browns readjusted 7.5-game wins total at PointsBet when I last reported on the team a couple week’s back. Nothing’s changed. Its total remains 7.5 with six of its final nine games to be played on the road. Deshaun Watson or no Deshaun Watson, I’m still not buying into this team winning this division at 14-1 regardless of Nick Chubb likely a shoe-in to be this season’s rushing yards leader.

Pittsburgh Steelers +6600

Losers of two straight and six of the last seven, it looks like Mike Tomlin’s streak of not overlooking a .500 or better Steelers team is over. Najee Harris has been a huge disappointment, but it’s tough to get much done playing on a bum foot with opposing defenses paying absolutely zero respect to the passing game. Kenny Pickett has inarguably had it rough to start his NFL career running up against the Bills, Buccaneers, Dolphins, and Eagles, but it doesn’t look to be getting any easier moving forward either.

Shut Najee down and build the rookie’s confidence. That should be priority No. 1 moving forward. Nothing else matters!